It happens to the best of us. You walk into the bathroom only to realize the toilet paper roll is empty. In a moment of panic, you look around and spot a roll of paper towels on the counter or a stack of napkins in your pocket. It seems like a perfectly fine substitute. After all, they look similar, they feel similar, and they are both made of paper. How much harm could one or two sheets really do? The truth is that flushing even a single paper towel can start a chain reaction that leads to a very expensive…

There are few sounds more frustrating than the “half-flush.” You push the handle, expect a powerful rush of water to clear the bowl, but instead, you get a weak swirl that leaves everything behind. It is a common household headache, and it usually happens at the worst possible time—like right before guests arrive. When a toilet fails to clear the bowl, your first instinct might be to reach for the phone and call a professional. However, plumbing repairs can be expensive. Before you spend a significant amount of money on a service call, you should know that many flushing problems…